Aircraft-washing apparatus

ABSTRACT

SCRUBBING SELF-PROPELLED PORTABLE FRAME GUIDED FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION, THERE BEING A PAIR OF RIGID HORIZONTAL BOOMS GUIDED ON SAID FRAME FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT AND POWER MEANS FOR EFFECTING SUCH MOVEMENT OF THE BOOMS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF THE FRAME SO THAT THE BOOMS TRAVERSE A PATH HAVING ANY DESIRED HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL COMPONENTS TO CONFORM SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE LONGITUDINAL PROFILE OF THE AIRCRAFT SURFACES TO BE CLEANED. Each boom supports a plurality of power-driven scrubbing means for operative engagement with the aircraft surfaces and includes articulated sections adjustable to various angular positions to clean the aircraft fuselage and rudder. An auxiliary boom composed of articulately interconnected sections is carried by and above the main boom and has power means for angularly adjusting its sections so that scrubbing means carried thereby may be positioned for operative engagement with an elevated tail surface of the aircraft. Spray nozzles carried by the respective booms and boom sections are adapted to direct a detergent solution toward the aircraft for washing purposes or, if desired, to direct deicing fluid toward the aircraft for removal of ice and snow therefrom. The scrubbing means of the booms are swingable into and from the path of the spray ejected from the nozzles so as to indirectly deliver the spray onto the aircraft surfaces, when desired, or to permit the spray to impinge directly on the surfaces of the aircraft. A lower, fixed level boom is similarly provided with spray nozzles and power-driven scrubbing means and is adapted for operation on the downwardly directed surfaces of the wing and fuselage of the aircraft.

United States Patent [72] inventor Vernon H. Cook rarar 111 's lit-1.11.22 211 App]. No. 856,603 [22] Filed Sept. 10, 1969 [45] Patented Aug.31, 1971 54 AIRCRAFT-WASHYING APPARATUS m i 16 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts Attorney-Watson, Cole, Grindle &Watson B TRACT;.fiqry bi ess t-p sznefleeEn l f guided for longitudinalmovement in a horizontal direction, there 1' being a pair of rigidhorizontal booms guided on said frame for vertical movement and powermeans for effecting such movement of the booms simultaneously with thehorizontal movement of the frame so that the booms traverse a pathhaving any desired horizontal and vertical components to conformsubstantially to the longitudinal profile of the aircraft surfaces to becleaned. Each boom supports a plurality of power-driven scrubbing meansfor operative engagement with the aircraft surfaces and includesarticulated sections adjustable to various angular positions to cleanthe aircraft fuselage and rudder. An auxiliary boom composed ofarticulately interconnected sections is carried by and above the mainboom and has power means for angularly adjusting its sections so thatscrubbing means carried thereby may be positioned for operativeengagement with an elevated tail surface of the aircraft. Spray nozzlescarried by the respective booms and boom sections -are adapted to directa detergent solution toward the aircraft for washing purposes or, ifdesired, to direct deicing fluid toward the aircraft for removal of iceand snow therefrom. The scrubbing means of the booms are swingable intoand from the path of the spray ejected from the nozzles so as toindirectly deliver the spray onto the aircraft surfaces, when desired,or to permit the spray to impinge directly on the surfaces of theaircraft. A lower, fixed level boom is similarly provided with spraynozzles and power-driven scrubbing means and is adapted for operation onthe downwardly directed surfaces of the wing and fuselage oftheaircraft.

SHEET 1 [IF 5 PATENTEU mm l97l 3,601. 832

sum 3 OF 5 M/I/E/VTOZ, Kenya/1% (00K PATENTED m3 1 19m SHEET 5 OF 5 w 44amt/m JITOK/ EKS AIRCRAFT-WASHING APPARATUS This invention relates toimprovements in apparatus primarily intended for washing aircraftalthough adapted also for spraying deicing fluid thereonto. It is wellknown that apparatus for washing and deicing aircraft as presently used,is of a rather makeshift nature consisting in many instances ofadaptations of tree spraying equipment and similar equipment primarilydesigned for .other purposes. Such apparatus has required a good deal ofmanual labor for its use, together with a considerable amount of timefor the washing operation and, of course has tied up expensive aircraft,their crews and passengers for substantial periods of time, all atsubstantial economic loss.

Contributing to such difficulties and disadvantages is the inherentdifficulty in washing aircraft arising from the large expanses ofsurface to be cleaned, and the wide variations in elevation of suchsurfaces, which renders it difficult to devise any special apparatuswhich can improve materially on the performance of the makeshiftapparatus above referred to.

With these considerations in mind, it is the primary object of theinvention to provide an aircraft washing apparatus for permanentinstallation at an airport, for the rapid and efficient washing andcleaning of aircraft which may be consecutively positioned at a givenwashing station to be fully traversed and cleaned by the apparatuswhich, during the course of a washing operation travels for the fulllength of the aircraft and has boom-supported means which may be raisedand lowered by power during longitudinal movement of the apparatus tothus closely follow the longitudinal profile of the upwardly presentedsurfaces of the aircraft being washed and also a lower fixed levelboom-carrying means for operation on the downwardly presented surfacesof the aircraft being washed. In addition, the main boom may carry anauxiliary boom also adjustable to varying levels and normally supportingspray nozzles and scrubbing means at an elevation appreciably above thatof the main boom so as to be adapted for operation on elevated tailsurfaces and the like of the aircraft.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus in accordance with theinvention arranged for washing an aircraft of more or less conventionalconfiguration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section on the line 2 2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detail cross section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary elevation of the free endportion of one of the main booms with the articulated sections thereofangularly disposed for operation at the juncture of the wing andfuselage of the aircraft;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the parts arranged foroperations on the tail structure of an aircraft;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the free end portion of the mainboom including the auxiliary boom which is carried thereby, therespective booms being arranged for operation on a tail of an aircraftof the type having greatly elevated tail surfaces;

FIG. 7 is an end elevation as seen from the free end of one of the boomsshowing a scrubbing element thereofin full lines in its normal operativeposition to intercept the spray and in broken lines in its retractedpositions to permit the spray to impinge directly upon the aircraftsurfaces;

FIG. 8 is a section on the line 88 of FIG. 7 showing the internalconstruction of one of the power-driven rotary scrubbing elements;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of one of the carriages and its upwardlyprojecting standard constituting the portable frame of the apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a section on the line 10 10 of FIG. 9.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings and firstconsidering the general construction of the preferred form ofaircraft-washing apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

the apparatus is adapted for washing of an aircraft, generallydesignated by the letter A in FIG. 1, which is stationed in apredetermined position and remains stationary while the apparatus of theinvention moves along over it in a rectilinear path to achieve thewashing function.

The apparatus comprises a self-propelled portable frame including theself-propelled carriages 10, 10 supported by the flanged drive wheels12-12, 14 and means such as the parallel tracks l6, l8 guiding the saidframe for rectilinear movement in a preselected horizontal direction.The frame in the preferred embodiment is of composite constructionincluding the upright or vertical spaced pairs of standards 20projecting upwardly from and carried by each such carriage on oppositesides of the aircraft A outwardly from the wingtips thereof. It will beseen that the said carriages l0 and the frame portions carried therebyas well as the other structure hereinafter described are arrangedsymmetrically to each other and to a vertical plane passing centrallybetween the upright standards.

Supported from the respective pairs of standards or uprights 20 incantilever fashion are a pair of main booms 22 which extend generallyhorizontally, inwardly toward each other. These booms are supported forvertical movement on the respective pairs of standards 2020simultaneously with the horizontal movement of the carriages 10 so thatpower-driven scrubbing means 24 supported by the booms may be positionedat the proper level for operative engagement with surfaces of theaircraft at different levels thereof as the apparatus progresseslongitudinally of the aircraft during the washing operation.

The'main booms 22, respectively, are carried in cantilever fashion fromcontrol cabins 26 which, in turn, are guided for vertical movement onthese standards and which enable the operator or operators to maintaineye-level surveillance of the action of the booms and the scrubbingmeans associated therewith. 4

It will be apparent from FIG. 1 that the main booms 22 an auxiliarybooms 28 are adapted for operation on the upper surfaces of the wingsand tail structure of the aircraft and the upwardly presented portionsof the fuselage.

For operation on the downwardly presented wing surfaces and undersurfaceof the fuselage, there are provided a second set of fixed elevationbooms 30 which extend inwardly from the respective carriages 10, beingsupported therefrom at their outer or relatively remote ends, andsupported by the wheels 32 at their relatively adjacent free inner endsfor movement at a predetermined height above the ground level. Thesebooms also carry power-driven scrubbing means 24a adapted for operativeengagement with the undersurfaces of the wings and fuselage of theaircraft being washed.

As will be best seen in FIG. 1, the standards 20 of each carriage arepreferably steadied by guy wires or cables 33 extending from the upperends thereof to the outboard or outer ends of the carriages 10 and alsoby means of a connecting wire or cable 35 extending and tensionalbetween the respective upper ends of the standards.

In order to permit utilization of either of the control cabins 26 tocontrol the operation of both the right-hand and lefthand sets of booms,the duplicate sets of controls within the respective cabins areinterconnected by suitable wires and conduits 37, which are suspended byhangers 39 beneath the connecting bar 35.

It will be understood that although the illustrated frame of theapparatus is of composite construction embodying two carriages, eachwith its upright standards and boom structures, the driving motors forpropelling the respective carriages are actuated in unison or incoordination with each other so that both of them move as a unit, suchcoordination being through the medium of the communication conduits andlines 37, above referred to, in FIG. 1. Similarly, the positioning ofthe vertically adjustable main booms 22 and auxiliary booms 28 will beaccomplished in unison, so that these parts will always be positionedsymmetrically with respect to each other and to an aircraft on whichthey are adapted to operate.

Adverting now to a more detailed consideration of the various parts ofthe apparatus above generally referred to, since such parts areduplicated on the opposite side of the apparatus, it will suffice todescribe in detail the parts for but a single side, the parts for theopposite side being designated by similar reference characters. Thus,each self-propelled wheeled carriage has housed therein conventionaldriving mechanisms as, for instance, an internal combustion engineoperating a generator (or alternator), neither of which are visible inFIG. 1, being merely conventional. The generator, in turn, is connectedin circuit with electric motors 34 which are in driving relation to thetwo in-line drive wheels 12-12 on the inboard side of the carriage inguided relation on the inner -track 16. The outboard idler wheel oroutrigger wheel 14 is similarly guided along the outer tracks 18. Bothtracks 16 and 18 are preferably very firmly and strongly supported, asfor instance on concrete piers 36, 38 extending well below the surfaceof the ground.

Guided for vertical movement on and between the upright standard 20--20of each pair is the control cabin 26 adapted to house an operatortogether with a full set of controls for the apparatus. The cabin haswheels 40 guiding it for movement on the uprights 20, same being locatedon either side of the cabin for engagement with each of the two uprightsor standards. Also, the cabin is provided with a rigid upright mast 42having a yoke 44 projecting around each'uprightand carrying a roller 46in operative engagement with the upright 20 on the outer side thereofwhereby better to support the weight of the cantilever boom 22 which iscarried by and projects inwardly from the control cabin. Support of theboom 22 is also provided by guy wires 48 extending diagonally downwardlyfrom the Aircraft of the mast 42 and attached to the boom at variouspoints along its length, via the brackets 50. The weight of the controlcabin is substantially counterbalanced by a counterweight 52 suspendedfrom a cable 54 which is guided over a pulley 56 rotatably supported atthe upper ends of the uprights or standards. Power means for effectingvertical movement of the boom 32 simultaneously with the horizontalmovement of the frame is exemplified by mechanism such as is illustratedand described in my copending application Ser. No. 791,024, filed Jan.14, 1969, entitled Aircraft Deicing Equipment and including a pair ofpinions 58, illustrated in FIG. 10,

' rotatably mounted on the control cabin in meshing engagement with rackgears 60 affixed to the adjacent or inner sides of the respectivestandards, the pinions 58 being selectively driven through means ofhydraulic or electric motor 62 and gear boxes 64, 66 within the controlcabin.

As will be apparent from FIG. 1, the main booms 22 are adapted formovement over and in operative association with the wings and tailsurfaces of the aircraft as well as the upwardly presented surfaceportions of the fuselage thereof. In order that'they may clear thefuselage and tail of the plane and generally conform to the planesurfaces on both the wings and the fuselage, it is desirable to have theinner end of each boom terminating in a plurality of rigid boom sections68 and 70 articulately connected to each other and to the main boomsection 22 in end-to-end relationship and, in communication with eachother and the main boom section, whereby the supply of ressurizedcleaning fluid as, for instance, a detergent solution delivered into themain boom section 22 from azpressurized source, such as a tan 72 (FIG.10) within the associated .carriage and delivered to the booms through aflexible hose 74, may be discharged through a series of spray dischargenozzles 76 carried by the boom and its various sections at relativelyspaced locations along the boom. Preferably all of the nozzles aredirected substantially vertically downwardly in a common plane.

For effecting relative angular adjustment between the articulatelyinterconnected sections of the main boom, there are provided power meanssuch as the hydraulic piston and cylinder units (best shown in FIGS. 4and 5) interconnected between the boom sections which are to berelatively adjusted. Thus in the preferred embodiment each boom includesthe main boom section 22 and the two relatively articulately con-.

80 to a similar bracket 82 n the main boom section 22. In the samemanner the outer or free section 70 is provided with a bracket 84 at itsfree end which is connected by the extensible and contractable powermeans in the form of a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 86 to asimilar bracket 88 rigidly affixed to the main boom section. It willthus be seen that both of the articulated boom sections 68, 70 areangularly adjustable with respect to the main boom section and to eachother, the articulated connections or pivotsbetween the boom sectionsbeing such as to permit their relative angular movement inia verticalplane. With this arrangement, the articulated free and sections of theboom may be made to conform rather closely to the profile of theaircraft at the juncture of its fuselage and wings, whereby thescrubbing means and spray nozzles may be brought into positions closelyadjacent to the wings and fuselage of an aircraft. v

Further, in accordance with the invention, each boom carries a suitableplurality of power-drivenscrubbing means 24 which are supported by themain boom' as well as by each of the articulated boom end sections. Suchscrubbing means 24 are preferably of cylindrical shape rotatable abouttheir axes for operative engagement with the aircraft surfaces to bescrubbed. They may, comprise brushes or spongelike resilientlydeformable material such as foam rubber or plastic foam. Each of thearticulated free end portions 68 and 70 of the boom carries its ownscrubbing means 24 for rotation about an axis parallel to that of theboom or boom section, and

in spaced relation thereto, the arrange'rnent being generally similar tothat of the scrubbing means carried by the main boom section. In' FIGS.1 through 5 of the drawings, the scrubbingineans 24 are positioned ordisposed. to intercept the spray from the spray discharge nozzles'76 andthus to indirectly deliver such spray onto the surface of the aircraftto be cleaned or deiced. However, it may be desirable under somecircumstances, to permit the nozzle to eject spray directly onto thesurfaces to be cleaned or deiced and to this end, referring to FIG. 8,each of the various rotary scrubbing, means or elements 24 is supportedbetween the free ends of relatively spaced rigid brackets 90, 90', theinner ends of which comprise bearing portions 92, .92 rotatablyjournaled on their associated secsuitably positioned openings in thebearing ends of the brackets and iri the adjacent portions-of the boom,each of the rotary scrubbing elements 24 may be operatively positionedin the path of the spray emanating from the spray nozzles 76 oftheirassociatedboomsection, for operative engagement with the aircraftsurface, all as shown in full lines in FIG. 7, or else each such rotaryscrubbing element may be swung to a retracted position as shown inbrokenlines in FIG. 7, and positioned therein. by the locking pin 94, inwhich position the spray nozzles will deliver their spray directly ontothe adjacent surface of the aircraft.-'Such arrangement may beparticularly desirable where deicing liquid is being delivered throughthe spray nozzles 76, although where the apparatus of the invention isbeing used primarily for washing dirt from the aircraft surfaces, itwill generally be desired to employ the rotary power-driven scrubbingmeans 24 which, in such event, will be operatively positioned as shownin full lines in FIG. 7.

Preferably the brackets 90, 90' which support each scrubbing element 24are longitudinally extensible so that the element may move with respectto the boom to be pressed into operative engagement with the aircraft,and independent such movement of the several scrubbing elements maycause them jointly to assume a profile conforming to that of theaircraft surfaces engaged by them at any given time.

For these purposes, and as shown in FIG. 8, each bracket 90, 90' isformed to define an outwardly opening cylinder which slidably receivesone end of a plunger 96, 96', constituting the free end portion of thebracket. The plungers 96, 96 are urged out of their respective cylindersand retracted thereinto, by fluid supplied and withdrawn through thetubes 97.

The hydraulic motor 98 for each scrubbing element 24 is affixed to andsupported from the plunger 96 of one of the brackets 90 by means of astationary tubular stub shaft 100 aligned with the rotary output shaft102 of the motor. The free end of the output shaft 102 is rotatablyjournaled in a sleeve bearing 104 carried by the plunger 96' of theother bracket 90'.

The hub 106 of the rotary scrubbing element 24 is in the form of ahollow cylinder which encompasses the hydraulic drive motor 98 and itsoutput shaft 102. One end of the cylinder 106 is affixed, as by welding107, to the output shaft 102, to transmit rotation from that shaft tothe scrubbing element 24, while the other end of the cylinder 106 isrotatably journaled on and supported by the stub shaft 100.

A pressurized driving fluid from any suitable source is delivered to thehydraulic motor 98' through a tubing 108 shown fragmentarily in FIG. 8,and discharged through the mbular shaft 102 and bearing 104.

AUXILIARY BOOM The main boom 22, as hereinbefore described, and itsassociated spraying and scrubbing means are intended primarily foroperation on the upwardly presented surfaces of the aircraft wings andfuselage and, in the case of many conventional aircraft, with the tailsurfaces thereof. However, in the case of an aircraft having an elevatedtail structure as shown in FIG. 1, it is desirable to provide anauxiliary boom 28 supported from the main boom 22 at a level appreciablythereabove, thereby minimizing the amount of vertical movement requiredof the main boom in order to operate on all of the surfaces of theaircraft.

Thus, referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, it will be seen that the auxiliaryboom 28 in the preferred embodiment comprises an upright boom section110, rigidly affixed to the main boom 22 medially of its length and apair of articulated boom sections 1 12, 114, pivotally connected to eachother and to the upright boom sections. For adjusting the angle betweenthe upright boom section 110 and the adjoining boom section 112, thereis provided a piston and cylinder unit 116 interconnected betweenbrackets 118 and 120 on said boom sections. Similarly, for adjusting thevertical angle between the two articulated boom sections 112, 114, thereis provided a similar arrangement of extensible and contractable pistonand cylinder unit 122 interconnected between brackets 124 and 126 onsuch boom sections, In this arrangement only the articulated boomsections carry spray nozzles 76 and rotary scrubbing elements 24. Itwill be seen that these articulated boom sections may be adjusted bymeans of their hydraulic units to any of a variety of operating levelsabove the level of the main boom to thus expeditiously engage anelevated tail surface (as illustrated in FIG. 6) such as may be employedon any various types and styles of aircraft. It will be understood thatthe spray nozzles 76 and the rotary scrubbing elements 24 of theauxiliary boom sections are arranged and driven similarly to thosehereinbefore described in connection with the main boom.

LOWER BOOM For cleaning-and/or applying deicing fluid to the undersideof the fuselage and wing structure, there are provided the fixed levellower horizontal booms 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2) located below the main boom22, just above ground level. Each fixed level lower boom is of hollowtubular construction so that it may serve as a fluid conduit in the samemanner as the main boom, and is provided with a plurality of upwardlydirected spray discharge nozzles 76 communicating with its interior toreceive a pressurized fluid therefrom and to direct it upwardly towardthe lower surfaces of the aircraft wing and fuselage.

Similarly, the fixed level lower boom 30 carries thereabove a pluralityof scrubbing means consisting of scrubbing element 24a similar to thoseheretofore described in connection with the main boom, These arenormally disposed in the path of the spray discharged through thenozzles 76 for delivering said spray onto the undersurface of the wingand fuselage incident to the scrubbing action thereon of the scrubbingelements.

As is the case with the scrubbing elements of the main boom, the severalscrubbing elements 24a of the lower boom are individually verticallyadjusted by means of their extensible and contractable hydraulicallyactuated brackets 90, which are in all respects similar to thosehereinbefore described except that they are directed upwardly ratherthan downwardly. It will thus be apparent that the action of thesehydraulic extensible and contractable brackets 90, 90' will be, whenthey are extended by fluid pressure within the cylinders, to urge thebrushes upwardly and press them into operative engagement with theundersurface of the aircraft.

In order that the free inner ends of the two fixed lines in booms 30 maymove past the landing gear of the aircraft, the inner end of the boom isformed to include an articulated extension 128 which is swingablehorizontally about a pivot 130, under the actuation and control of aconventional piston and cylinder unit 132 interconnected between abracket 134 on the main portion of this boom and a further bracket 136on the free end of the articulated extension. Thus by suitable actuationof the hydraulic piston and cylinder unit, the articulated extension maybe positioned either in alignment with the remainder of the boom asillustrated in full lines in FIG. 2, or it may be withdrawn to aretracted position substantially at right angles to the remainder of theboom as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, whereby it may clear thelanding wheels or gear of the aircraft and move freely therepast.

It is desirable that the inner free ends of the fixed level lower boomsbe supported against downward deflection, for which purpose there areprovided suitable caster wheels 32 supported at the lower ends of legs138 which, in turn, depend from the articulated extensions of therespective booms.

OPERATION In the operation of the apparatus, with the framework disposedat one end of its range of operative horizontal movement, an aircraft istaxied to a predetermined position between the opposed pairs ofstandards 20-20 with the vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry of theaircraft substantially coincident with the vertical plane of symmetry ofthe apparatus, and with either the nose or tail of the aircraftpositioned in the path of horizontal advancement or movement of theapparatus. The drive motors 34 for the driving wheels 12 are then placedin synchronous operation so that both carriage l0 and the structuresupported thereby advance simultaneously and abreast of each other downthe tracks l6, 18, the horizontal main booms 22 and their articulatedportions 68, 70 being adjusted progressively as to their vertical levelsand their angular relationships to cause the scrubbing means 24, 24a tooperatively engage the various upper and lower surfaces of the aircraftfuselage, wings, tail and rudder. The auxiliary booms 28 are similarlyto be angularly adjusted to engage the appropriate surfaces by thescrubbing elements in passing thereover, the angular adjustment beingsuch as to cause the various scrubbing means 24 to pursue pathsconforming to the longitudinal contour of the respective aircraftsurfaces which they engage.

The lower or fixed level boom 30 will have its brushes or scrubbingelements 24a individually projected upwardly by -the extensiblehydraulically actuated brackets to be thus pressed into operativescrubbing engagement with the lower surfaces of the aircraft wings,fuselage and tail in passing therebeneath.

Where the apparatus is used for conducting the washing operations toremove dirt from the aircraft surfaces, the brushes or scrubbingelements 24, 240 will normally be employed in the manner abovedescribed, while a suitable detergent solution is ejected or expelledfrom the various spray nozzles 76 and on to the rotary scrubbing meansto loosen and assist the scrubbing means in removal of dirt, dust andforeign matter.

However, where the apparatus is to be employed for deicing purposes, itmay or may not be desired to employ the scrubbing means of theinvention. Where such scrubbing means and their action is not desired,such scrubbing means may be swung or retracted to inoperative positionsas illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 7 of the drawings. In such event,the vertically movable main booms and auxiliary booms may be verticallyadjusted to bring their respective spray nozzles into closeproximitywith the surfaces of the aircraft to be sprayed, to direct spray thereonin concentrated form, whereby to perform an efiective deicing function.lf desired, after the deicing liquid has been sprayed onto the aircraftwhile the scrubbing means are retracted, the scrubbing means may then beswung to operativeposition and the apparatus may be caused to make areturn pass or sweep over the aircraft with the scrubbing meansoperatively engaging same to mechanically remove the ice and snowtherefrom.

It will thus be apparent that either the spraying action alone or thescrubbing action alone may be employed to advantage and, of course, thetwo may be employed together in conjunction, with each other, especiallywhere the function is primarily that of cleaning or washing theaircraft.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In an aircraft-washing apparatus, the combination comprising:

a self-propelled portable frame,

means guiding sad frame for movement in a preselected horizontaldirection,

a rigid generally horizontal boom guided on said frame for verticalmovement,

power means for effecting vertical movement of said boom simultaneouslywith the horizontal movement of said frame power-driven scrubbing meansand spray discharge nozzles supported by said boom,

said boom comprising a plurality of articulately interconnected rigidsections, power means being interconnected between adjoining saidsections for effecting relative angular adjustment between saidsections, said nozzles and said scrubbing means being carried by therespective said sections.

2. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which each saidscrubbing means includes a fluid drive motor, there being a commonsource of pressurized fluid communicating with said fluid drive motorand with said spray nozzles.

3. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, including anauxiliary boom and means supporting said auxiliary boom from saidfirst-mentioned boom, at a level above that of the first-mentioned boom.

4. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 3, includingpower-driven scrubbing means supported by said auxiliary boom.

5. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said boomis of tubular construction defining a fluid conduit in communicationwith said nozzles.

6. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said framecomprises an upright standard, said generally horizontal boom beingguided for vertical movement on said standard and supported incantilever fashion therefrom.

7. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 6. in which said boomcomprises a plurality of'articulately interconnect'ed rigid tubularsection in fluidtight communication with each other, and power means foreffecting relative angular adjustment of adjoining said sections, therebeing a plurality of said scrubbing means carried by the respective saidboom sections.

8. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which saidnozzles of each boom section are all directed in a common plane parallelto said boom section, said scrubbing means for the respective boomsections being mounted for rotation about axes parallel to saidrespective sections and swingable about said sections into and from thepaths of the spray emanating from said nozzles.

9. In an aircraft-washing apparatus, the combination comprising:

a self-propelled portable frame,

means guiding said frame for movement in a preselected horizontaldirection,

a rigid generally horizontal boom guided on said frame for verticalmovement,

power means for effecting vertical movement of said boom simultaneouslywith the horizontal movement of said frame;

power-driven scrubbing means supported by said boom,

said scrubbing means comprising a fluid-driven motor rigidly supportedfrom said boom, a rotary output shaft, and a cylindrical hollowscrubbing element coaxially carried by said shaft for rotationtherewith, said motor being encompassed within said cylindrical hollowscrubbing element.

10. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 9, including rigidbrackets connected to the boom for angular adjustment therearound andhaving free ends projecting outwardly from the boom, said scrubbingmeans being carried at the free ends of said brackets, and means forselectively maintaining said brackets in various positions of angularadjustment around said boom.

ll. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 10, in which saidbrackets are longitudinally extensible and contractable for varying thedistance of the scrubbing means from the boom.

12. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which saidbrackets respectively comprise fluid-actuated piston and cylinder units.

13. In an aircraft-washing apparatus, the combination comprising:

a self-propelled portable frame,

means guiding said frame for horizontal rectilinear movement,

a horizontal boom carried in cantilever fashion by said frame andextending transversely to themovement of said frame, 7

said boom comprising a plurality of rigid sections articulate- 1yinterconnected for relative swinging movement in a horizontal plane,

spray nozzles and power-driven scrubbing means carried by the respectivesaid sections.

14. An aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 13, including apair of said horizontal booms supported from said frame in alignmentwith each other, the relatively adjacent ends of said booms being free,and the relatively remote ends of said booms being connected to saidframe, said free ends being defined by horizontally swingable boomsections, and power means for horizontally swinging said boom sectionsfrom positions in alignment with each other to retracted positionsgenerally parallel to each other.

15. Aircraft washing apparatus as defined in claim 14, including groundwheels rotatably connected to said last mentioned horizontally swingableboom sections and supporting same for movement at predetermined levels.

16. ln an aircraft-washing apparatus, the combination comprising:

a self-propelled portable frame,

means guiding said frame for movement in a preselected horizontaldirection,

a rigid generally horizontal boom guided on said frame for verticalmovement,

power means for effecting vertical movement of said boom simultaneouslywith the horizontal movement of said frame;

power-driven scrubbing means supported by said boom; a plurality ofspray discharge nozzles carried by said boom, said scrubbing means beingdisposed to intercept the W E rs s i sw disflarswwfles r

1. In an aircraft-washing apparatus, the combination comprising: aself-propelled portable frame, means guiding sad frame for movement in apreselected horizontal direction, a rigid generally horizontal boomguided on said frame for vertical movement, power means for effectingvertical movement of said boom simultaneously with the horizontalmovement of said frame power-driven scrubbing means and spray dischargenozzles supported by said boom, said boom comprising a plurality ofarticulately interconnected rigid sections, power means beinginterconnected between adjoining said sections for effecting relativeangular adjustment between said sections, said nozzles and saidscrubbing means being carried by the respective said sections. 2.Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which each saidscrubbing means includes a fluid drive motor, there being a commonsource of pressurized fluid communicating with said fluid drive motorand with said spray nozzles.
 3. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined inclaim 1, including an auxiliary boom and means supporting said auxiliaryboom from said first-mentioned boom, at a level above that of thefirst-mentioned boom.
 4. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim3, including power-driven scrubbing means supported by said auxiliaryboom.
 5. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which saidboom is of tubular construction defining a fluid conduit incommunication with said nozzles.
 6. Aircraft-washing apparatus asdefined in claim 5, in which said frame comprises an upright standard,said generally horizontal boom being guided for vertical movement onsaid standard and supported in cantilever fashion therefrom. 7.Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which said boomcomprises a plurality of articulately interconnected rigid tubularsection in fluidtight communication with each other, and power means foreffecting relative angular adjustment of adjoining said sections, therebeing a plurality of said scrubbing means carried by the respective saidboom sections.
 8. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 1, inwhich said nozzles of each boom section are all directed in a commonplane parallel to said boom section, said scrubbing means for therespective boom sections being mounted for rotation about axes parallelto said respective sections and swingable about said sections into andfrom the paths of the spray emanating from said nozzles.
 9. In anaircraft-washing apparatus, the combination comprising: a self-propelledportable frame, means guiding said frame for movement in a preselectedhorizontal direction, a rigid generally horizontal boom guided on saidframe for vertical movement, power means for effecting vertical movementof said boom simultaneously with the horizontal movement of said frame;power-driven scrubbing means supported by said boom, said scrubbingmeans comprising a fluid-driven motor rigidly supported from said boom,a rotary output shaft, and a cylindrical hollow scrubbing elementcoaxially carried by said shaft for rotation therewith, said motor beingencompassed within said cylindrical hollow scrubbing element. 10.Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 9, including rigidbrackets connected to the boom for angular adjustment therearound andhaving free ends projecting outwardly from the boom, said scrubbingmeans being carried at the free ends of said brackets, and means forselectively maintaining said brackets in various positions of angularadjustment around said boom.
 11. Aircraft-washing apparatus as definedin claim 10, in which said brackets are longitudinally extensible andcontractable for varying the distance of the scrubbing means from theboom.
 12. Aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 11, in whichsaid brackets respectively comprise fluid-actuated piston and cylinderunits.
 13. In an aircraft-washing apparatus, the combination comprising:a self-propelled portable frame, means guiding said frame for horizontalrectilinear movement, a horizontal boom carried in cantilever fashion bysaid frame and extending transversely to the movement of said frame,said boom comprising a plurality of rigid sections articulatelyinterconnected for relative swinging movement in a horizontal plane,spray nozzles and power-driven scrubbing means carried by the respectivesaid sections.
 14. An aircraft-washing apparatus as defined in claim 13,including a pair of said horizontal booms supported from said frame inalignment with each other, the relatively adjacent ends of said boomsbeing free, and the relatively remote ends of said booms being connectedto said frame, said free ends being defined by horizontally swingableboom sections, and power means for horizontally swinging said boomsections from positions in alignment with each other to retractedpositions generally parallel to each other.
 15. Aircraft washingapparatus as defined in claim 14, including ground wheels rotatablyconnected to said last mentioned horizontally swingable boom sectionsand supporting same for movement at predetermined levels.
 16. In anaircraft-washing apparatus, the combination comprising: a self-propelledportable frame, means guiding said frame for movement in a preselectedhorizontal direction, a rigid generally horizontal boom guided on saidframe for vertical movement, power means for effecting vertical movementof said boom simultaneously with the horizontal movement of said frame;power-driven scrubbing means supported by said boom; a plurality ofspray discharge nozzles carried by said boom, said scrubbing means beingdisposed to intercept the spray discharged through said spray dischargenozzles; said scrubbing means being mounted on the boom for selectivepositioning either in or to one side of the path of the spray emanatingfrom said spray nozzles.